DEIR ALLA: In a significant move to enhance irrigation management in the Jordan Valley, the Jordan Valley Authority and several Water User Associations have inked a memorandum of understanding. This new agreement, signed at the guest house in Deir Alla, is set to advance the efficiency of water distribution and reduce resource loss.
According to Jordan News Agency, the memorandum was formalized during a joint meeting which included not only the key figures from the Jordan Valley Authority and the Jordan Cooperative Corporation but also senior officials, representatives from the Water User Associations, and other stakeholders involved in irrigation management. The ceremony saw the presence of Hisham Haisa, the Secretary-General of the Jordan Valley Authority, and Abdul Fattah Shalabi, the Director-General of the Jordan Cooperative Corporation.
The Ministry of Water and Irrigation, through a statement issued on Sunday, emphasized that the agreement aims to empower the Water User Associations that manage over
78 percent of the irrigated lands in the valley. The initiative is designed to improve water distribution, reduce water losses, and preserve the existing water infrastructure, in a collaborative effort with the Jordan Valley Authority.
During the meeting, Haisa highlighted the crucial role of the Jordan Cooperative Corporation in boosting the capabilities of local communities. Shalabi expressed appreciation for the Jordan Valley Authority’s effort to engage farmers directly in the management of irrigation water, which he noted aligns with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision. This vision promotes enhancing public-private partnerships and includes providing training opportunities for local associations to further their development and efficiency in managing resources.